Animals have a friend in Officer Thompson

In celebration of National Feral Cat Day on Oct. 16 and National Pit Bull Awareness Day today, the Animal Alliance of Greater Syracuse and Cuse Pit Crew would like to give a huge shout-out to Officer Rebecca Thompson, Syracuse's first and much needed animal cruelty investigator, and her boss, Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler, along with Mayor Stephanie Miner.

The pit bull called Grace, who died recently from kidney failure following months of neglect, represents merely the tip of the iceberg of animal abuse and neglect rampant in our community. Most professionals believe there is a significant correlation between animal abuse and other forms of violence. Locally, there are numerous groups working to prevent animal abuse and neglect.

In Missouri, the St. Louis police force recently named its first animal abuse investigator. Police Chief Dan Isom said he thinks shows intolerance to all forms of violence. ''Violence is violence ... and I think all of it is related,'' Isom said.

We agree. As this community undertakes to fight gang violence, we must convey to those who would behave violently that we will not tolerate mistreatment of our children, elderly or vulnerable community members - including our animals. We feel Officer Thompson's appointment is a brilliant step in the right direction.